Historic_Time

HISTORIC TIME LINE

This "Historic Time Line" can be used in two ways. It can be read as it is, as a listing by date of events that have had an impact on Rodman Reservoir. It can also be used as an index for quickly finding narratives of events in Rodman's history. As you scan the events listed, you will note there are "links" indicated that will connect you to longer, more detailed articles concerning Rodman. (a table of these "links)

1935 through 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 , 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

1935 through 1994

1935	Construction begins on Florida Ship Canal from Yankeetown to Palatka. President Franklin D. Roosevelt allocated $5 million for a public-works relief program as an initial step in the canal's construction.
1936	Work stopped when the $5 million ran out. The railroads opposed the project and lobbied Congress to provide no more funds. Besides, war was looming on the horizon.
1939	World War II started in Europe.
1941	United States enters the war.
1942	Congress, reacting to heavy shipping losses around Florida from German submarines, authorized the construction of a high level lock-type facility, but the cost of the war prevented funds from being forthcoming.
1945	War is over!
1962	Canal project redesigned for barges instead of ships. Canal work starts up again.
1968	Dam completed, Rodman Reservoir flooded.
1971	Worked stopped.
1972	Aug. 72 to March 73: Court ordered drawdown to save wetland trees: Court ruled there weren't enough trees to bother with and ordered the level returned to 18' msl.
1975	Jan. 75 to Mar. 76: First drawdown to include a surcharge before and after - surcharge to 20.5ft.
1979	Aug. 79 to Nov. 79: 6 week experimental aquatic plant management drawdown.
1980	Jan. 80 to Feb. 80: 4 week experimental aquatic plant management drawdown.
1980	Sept. 80 to Mar. 81: 24 week experimental aquatic plant management drawdown.
1981	Sept. 81 to Feb. 82: 22 week experimental aquatic plant management drawdown.
1985	Dec. 85 to mar. 86: Extensive fish kill in August 1985 preceded drawdown - with 19' surcharge.
1988	Dec. 88 to Mar. 89: Extensive fish kill in August - Sept.1985 preceded drawdown
1990	President George Bush signs deauthorization of Cross Florida Barge Canal.
1991	Governor Chiles and Cabinet accept terms of federal legislation.
	Nov. 91 to Aug. 92: Drawdown to 13ft. - included surcharge to 19ft..
1992	Former barge canal lands become Cross Florida Green Belt, later named Cross Florida Greenway. Governor Chiles and Cabinet recommend restoration of Ocklawaha River and immediate drawdown of Rodman.
1993	Florida Legislature authorizes $900,000 study of various scenarios for Ocklawaha River and Rodman Reservoir. The Canal Authority becomes the Office of Greenways and Trails.
1994	Studies are completed. The SJRWMD performed the environmental portion of the studies. It contained 20 volumes. The DEP did the one volume economic study.
	F.S. 253.7829 passed giving final disposition of Rodman's water control structures to the Legislature.

1995

JAN.1	Putnam Co. Commission passes resolution to keep Rodman the way it is.
MARCH	Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommends partial restoration of Oklawaha River; opponents vow to introduce legislation to retain Rodman.
MAY	"95" Legislature denies DEP restoration funds.
AUG.	A non-profit organization is formed to prevent the destruction of Rodman Reservoir (SAVE RODMAN RESERVOIR, INC.).
SEPT.7	The DEP attempts to use the permitting process to do a permanent drawdown leading to the destruction of Rodman Reservoir.
SEPT.12	Opposition forces the DEP to withdraw its request to drawdown Rodman Reservoir.
SEPT.15	DEP applies to the Army Corps of Engineers for a dredge and fill permit for minimum restoration of Rodman Reservoir.
OCT.10	SJRWMD's Governing Board passes a Consumptive Use Permit for the DEP to drawdown Rodman Reservoir for a 6 month long weed kill and fisheries enhancement. (twice as long as necessary).
NOV.	Nov. 95 to April 96: Drawdown to 13' - included surcharge to 20'.
	.................................................................................................................................................... SJRWMD completes Ocklawaha River Water Allocation Study that says up to 165 cubic feet per second of water can be taken at or below the dam for human consumption (without harming the environment) and economically transported up to 50 miles.

FEB. 13	Comptroller Milligan requires the DEP to present its Quarterly Report to the Cabinet along with a cost analysis of retention vs. minimum restoration.
FEB. 29	Comptroller Milligan writes Sen. Kirkpatrick a letter referencing the DEP cost analysis stating there is a 2 to 1 cost benefit of retention over minimum restoration.
MARCH 1	DEP submits draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Army Corps of Engineers. Army Corps starts its "scooping process" (receiving public input concerning the DEP's application).
MARCH 4	DEP applies to the SJRWMD for a dredge and fill permit under a "Noticed General Application" (Quick permit for small jobs.).
MARCH 29	SJRWMD rejects DEP's application, but allows DEP to pursue the application under the procedural rules of an individual permit.
APRIL 15	Rodman back to 18 foot level following drawdown. DEP used the extra three months to take aerial photos and do engineering studies for restoration.
APRIL 17	DEP holds a (required) public meeting in SJRWMD's auditorium to inform public of their "minimum restoration plan".
APRIL 18	"96" Legislature denies DEP any restoration funds. (2nd. year in a row)
JULY 19	Army Corps rejects draft EIS - tells DEP to do it right
AUG. 2	Comptroller refuses to authorize expenditures on destruction until legislature allocates funds - flags the DEP accounts to keep them honest.
SEPT. 11	SJRWMD Board of Governors hearing on DEP application - decision deferred and application passed to an Administrative Hearing.
OCT.3	DEP submits 2nd draft of EIS. Army Corps tells DEP, "EIS yet not complete".
OCT. 8	Legislature not in session. DEP submits a budget change request to accept federal funds offered by Sen. Graham. (To prevent outside funds from being used, both the chairmen of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee must object in writing.)
OCT. 22	Deadline for objections to federal funds passes. House Appropriations chair refuses to object. Governor signs budget change request and violates Fla. Statutes. Capitol outlay projects, once turned down by the Legislature cannot be funded from outside sources.

JAN. 18	Marion Co. Legislative Delegation passes resolution to keep Rodman the way it is.
FEB. 5	DEP withdraws SJRWMD application. We win Administrative Hearing by default.
MARCH 11	Marion Co. Commission passes resolution to keep Rodman the way it is. All local governmental bodies directly associated with Rodman want it left as it is.
APRIL	"97" legislature refuses to allocate funds for Rodman's destruction.(3rd. year in a row)
JUNE	SRR holds first Open Bass Tournament at Kenwood Landing with 143 boats participating. A tremendous success!
	Buckman Lock & Dam inspected after 29 years of use and found in good shape. Will cost only $419,000 for complete overhaul.
JULY	DEP receives funds from Exxon-Valdes settlement that Senator Graham had arranged. They hire an engineering firm of Post, Buckley, Shuh and Jernningen (PBS&J) to perform engineering studies and obtain permits to destroy Rodman.
DEC.	DEP submits permit applications prepared by PBS&J to SJRWMD and the Army Corps of Engineers for a second attempt at obtaining permits.

JAN.	> SRR Obtains a copy of the Greenways audit of eastern Greenways expenses for the years of 1994, 1995 and 1/2 of 1996 showing that Rodman does NOT cost $1 million a year to maintain as the Florida Defenders of the Environment would have us believe, less than $250,000 per year.
	> DEP permit applications returned by the SJRWMD because of missing and inaccurate information in the application.
	> The EIS was also returned to the DEP by the Army Corps of Engineers for the same reason.
	> Florida Senate Natural Resources Committee takes testimony about Rodman Reservoir.
FEB.	Glenn Lau donates copies of his TNN video Down the Ocklawaha to send to all the legislators in Tallahassee. Rodman supporters lobby hard to prevent Rodman's destruction.
MARCH 9	DEP requests first extension of time to provide additional information for their permit applications.
MARCH 16	Bill introduced in Florida Senate to allocate $5 million to destroy Rodman Reservoir. The allocation was defeated 21-15.
MARCH 20	House defeats bill (by 63-44) to allocate money to destroy Rodman. No money allocated this year to destroy Rodman. (The fourth year in a row that the legislature has refused to destroy Rodman!)
MAY 14	DEP requests second extension on their permit application to provide the requested additional information. SJRWMD granted the request and the DEP has until July 31 to complete their permit application.
JUNE 20	Second Save Rodman Reservoir Bass Tournament with 139 boats participating. It was a tremendous success with 601.49 pounds of fish weighed in on a 100 degree, hot day!
JULY 24	DEP granted third extension of time on their permit application. This extension to expire in June 1999.
DEC.	Dec. 98 to April. 99: Fisheries enhancement and aquatic plant control drawdown - surcharge to 20'.

JAN.	> Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) holds national tournament in Palatka after a seven year boycott of Florida. This was a huge economic boost for Putnam County with national television exposure. Over 60% of the contestants made the trip through Buckman Lock into Rodman.
	> Florida Defenders of the Environment attempts to enlist the help of the federal government to destroy Rodman by involving a land lease agreement with the U.S. Forestry Service.
FEB.	> Marion County Legislative Delegation passed a resolution to retain Rodman Reservoir.
	>Manatee protection net purchased and ready to be installed at Dam, but the US Fish and Wildlife service refuses to allow its installation.
	> U.S. Forestry Service extends lease on land it owns at the dam from December 31, 1998, not to exceed 12 months.
	> Rodman featured on national television with telecast of Shaw Grigsby's "One More Cast"
APRIL	For the fifth straight year in a row the 1999 Florida Legislature refuses to appropriate any funds to destroy Rodman Reservoir.
	The legislature appropriates $500,000 for repairs and improvements for Rodman. Governor Bush approves.
MAY	Wolfson Children's Hospital Benefit Tournament draws 500 fishermen into Rodman.
	DEP requests an 18 month extension on their permit to destroy Rodman. This was the fourth extension request.
JUNE	Third annual Save Rodman Bass Tournament breaks own record with 348 fishermen in 174 boats fishing the tournament.
	June 30 SJRWMD grants the 4th. request to extend the DEP permit application for 18 months.
JULY	Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc. very strongly protests the excessive length of the permit extension.
	Henry Dean, Executive Director of SJRWMD amends the permit extension until January 31, 2000.
AUGUST	> A bronze plaque renaming Rodman Dam to Senator George Kirkpatrick Dam was dedicated in a ceremony at the dam.
	> Ed Taylor of Palatka was elected the new president of Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc. He immediately began working on getting SRR moved into a new office in downtown Palatka---much more convenient and visible than its former headquarters at the Andry's!
NOV.	SRR moved into their new office at 109 N. 2nd Street in downtown Palatka.

JAN.	SRR Joins Lake Watch. We had tried to join in 1995, but were told the SJRWMD was performing Lake Watch functions on Rodman Reservoir.
JAN. 30	DEP received their fifth permit application extension.
MARCH	E. C. Dressler catches a 17# 2oz. bass in Rodman. The state record is 17.2#
APRIL 1	Gate's Bait and Tackle sponsor a SRR benefit tournament ("The Strike Zone Challenge"). 54 boats participated at Kenwood Landing on Rodman.
APRIL 3	Buckman Lock is closed to protect manatees. This was done to prevent the federal government from filing suit against the State of Florida under the endangered species act.
MAY	> The 2000 legislature almost passed a bill making Rodman Reservoir an official State Recreational Area.
	> The legislature appropriated $600,000 to be used to install manatee protection devices at Buckman Lock and Kirkpatrick Dam.
JUNE	The DEP received their sixth permit application extension.
JUNE 10	The fourth annual Save Rodman Reservoir Open Bass Tournament produced only 134 boats but 356 fish weighing 747.6 pounds.
AUGUST	Governor Bush announces that restoration of the Ocklawaha will probably be the best course of action.
SEPT.	Rodman Experiences fish kill (Click here to see the Whole Story)
OCT.	The DEP receives their seventh permit application extension.

JAN.	Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc. completes its first year with the Florida LakeWatch program. Water samples from eights sites in Rodman prove that Rodman improves water quality by removing about 75% of the total nitrogen and 50% of the total phosphorus that enters from the Ocklawaha River.
FEB.	Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission name Rodman as on of the ten best bass lakes in Florida.
April	The 2001 Florida Senate passes a bill 35 to 1 to designate Rodman a State Reserve. The bill was then sent to the Florida house of Representatives for a vote, but was not called to the floor because the session ran out of time.
June	The 5th annual SRR open bass tournament registered 204 boats (Wow!). Counting spectators that came to watch the weigh in we hosted about 1000 people. A great tournament!
November	Rodmam's water level was lowered to 11 feet above sea level for a planned fisheries enhancement and aquatic weed control drawdown. It will return to normal next March.
December	Buckman Lock had been closed for about a year while manatee protection devises were being installed on the locks and Kirkpatrick Dam. The installation of the dam grates to prevent manatees from becoming trapped in the outflow was completed. Sonar safety devises were installed on the locks as were port grills, but during tests the intake port grills buckled. The locks will remain closed until stronger grills are installed. Many recreational improvements were completed during the last year: Kirkpatrick Dam spillway: New picnic pavilions and tables, New restrooms facilities, A new fishing pier on the west side of the spillway and the old fishing pier on the east side was repaired. Rodman Campground got a new restroom and shower building. Eureka Landing now has a new fishing pier and parking lot. The launching ramp is repaired and new parking for trailer rigs is in place. Hog Valley landing has a new launching ramp.
DEC. 17	The U. S. Forest Service (USFS) owns about 600 acres on which a portion of Kirkpatrick Dam is built. The USFS attaches a requirement to a lease agreement with the DEP stating the DEP must furnish an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) stating how the DEP will restore the Lower Ocklawaha River within six years. The USFS states that if the DEP does not provide the EIS. the USFS will remove that portion of Rodman Dam from their land and bill the State of Florida for the cost of removal. The DEP provided the required EIS and it was accepted by the USFS this date.

March	SRR appeals the acceptance by the USFS of the EIS, but loses the appeal. SRR considers going to court over the issue, but decides to wait and see what the USFS is going to do. SRR has six years to go to court if the need arises.
June	The 6th annual SRR open bass tournament is attended by 176 boats on a miserable rainy day. Even so, 371 bass were caught totaling 871.8 pounds.
July	The USFS sends a lease agreement to the DEP for their signature. The lease agreement now, termed a "Special Use Permit", contains the language that the DEP will restore the Lower Ocklawaha River within six years. The DEP returned the Special Use Permit to the USFS stating that they could not sign it because the legislature had not allocated any money for the project.
October	The St Johns River Water Management District provides data that parallels that which has been collected by the Florida LakeWatch program showing that Rodman Reservoir does a remarkable job of removing excessive nutrients form the water, thus keeping them out of the St Johns River. About twenty five 10 ton dump trucks full of total nitrogen are removed from the Ocklawaha River each year.
Nov. /Dec.	Buckman Lock opened after being closed for about two years while manatee protection devices were being installed. Sonar devices were installed on the lock doors to prevent them closing if any object was between them and grills were secured over the water intake and outlet ports to prevent manatees from being trapped in the openings.
Dec. 5	The threatened destruction of Rodman by the U. S. Forestry Service prompted save Rodman Reservoir, Inc. to establish a "Legal Fund" with which to pay legal expenses if litigation becomes necessary to save Rodman.

Feb. 5	Senator George Kirkpatrick passed away.
April 24	The Florida Senate unanimously passed a bill designating Rodman the George Kirkpatrick State Reserve. The Florida House of Representatives did likewise on May 2 by a vote of 92 to 26. The whole story.
June 21	The 7th. annual Save Rodman Reservoir BASS Tournament with 180 boats.
July	Governor Jeb Bush veto the legislation designating Rodman the George Kirkpatrick State Reserve.
December	Buckman Lock closed again because some of the manatee protection grills covering the water ports failed due to water pressure. The were twisted out of shape. The locks will remain closed until new grills are designed and installed.

Mar. /Apr.	Knowing Governor Jeb Bush would again veto a stand alone bill to protect Rodman, an amendment worded exactly as the 2003 Rodman Bill with an additional statement as to Rodman's ability as a source of potable water was added to an environmental bill containing several desirable environmental provisions. The bill, however, died on the calendar as did many bills of the session when the 2004 legislative session ran out of time.
June	The 8th annual Save Rodman Reservoir bass tournament had 156 boats participating.
Nov.	13th fisheries enhancement drawdown to 11 feet through March 2005 with surcharge to 20 feet before and after drawdown.

Mar. / Apr.	Senator Rod Smith introduced a bill similar to the 2001 bill but it died without getting through committees because of the extremely heavy legislative work load and our bill was not pushed because it was known Governor Jeb Bush would veto it.
April	The 9th annual Save Rodman Tournament. We decided to move the tournament forward during the year because the weather in June had been either stormy or too hot. This years tournament was much more comfortable and less hard on the volunteer help. Even though the number of boats was fewer then previous years (111), we still had a good tournament.
July	Buckman lock finally opened for use with new improved manatee protection devices. The lock was drained during the repairs so the repair process could be better observed and the locks could be cleaned and inspected. Some minor equipment problems were discovered and corrected, but the lock itself was found to be in very good shape structurally.

April	10th Annual bass tournament with 110 boats,
	No legislative action taken for or against the reservoir this year.

April	11th Annual bass tournament with 132 boats,
Nov.	14th fisheries enhancement drawdown to 11 feet through March 2005 with surcharge to 20 feet before and after drawdown.
	No legislative action taken for or against the reservoir this year.

April	12th Annual bass tournament with 127 boats,
	No legislative action taken for or against the reservoir this year.

April	13th Annual bass tournament with 171 boats
	No legislative action taken for or against the reservoir this year.

April	14th Annual bass tournament with 126 boats
	No legislative action taken for or against the reservoir this year.

April	15th Annual bass tournament with 144 boats
October	15th fisheries enhancement drawdown to 11 feet through March 2012 with surcharge to 20 feet before and after drawdown.
	No legislative action taken for or against the reservoir this year.

February	Environmental groups threaten to sue the National Forest Service (NFS) using the endangered species act if the NFS does not destroy Rodman Reservoir and restore the Ocklawaha River. Read more.
April	16th Annual bass tournament with 131 boats